Meta-analysis of effects of grazing on carbon pools in grassland ecosystems in different climatic regions

doi:10.11686/cyxb2015579

Abstract

Abstract: Changes in carbon stocks in grassland ecosystems are an important factor in the global carbon balance. Although many individual studies have been conducted around the world on the effects of grazing on carbon cycling, there is still some controversy regarding the general effects of livestock grazing on different carbon pools. In this study, 105 individual studies on the effects of grazing on carbon cycling were subjected to a meta-analysis. Our results revealed several general trends, which can be summarized as follows. Grazing activities significantly decrease the size of above-belowground and related carbon pools, but increase soil respiration. The types of carbon pools vary significantly among climate types. Grazing activities decrease the size of plant belowground carbon pools and soil carbon pools in semi-humid/humid climate regions (by 15.21% and 15.35%, respectively), but have smaller effects on these carbon pools in arid/semi-arid climate regions. There is no significant relationship between plant aboveground carbon pools and soil carbon pools, but there is a significant positive correlation between plant belowground carbon pools and soil carbon pools. The response ratio of soil carbon pools is positively correlated with mean annual precipitation, and significantly negatively correlated with mean annual temperature. Both mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature are significantly negatively correlated with the response of plant belowground carbon pools. Grazing activities not only significantly decrease the size of plant aboveground and belowground carbon pools, but also alter carbon distribution in the plant.

ZHOU Gui-Yao, WU Yan-You. Meta-analysis of effects of grazing on carbon pools in grassland ecosystems in different climatic regions[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2016, 25(10): 1-10.

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